Over the years, Celtic fans have undoubtedly been treated to a number of elite strikers.
With 242 goals in 315 games over seven seasons, Henrik Larsson, also referred to as the King of Kings, is regarded by many as Celtic’s best player of the modern period.
Many Celtic strikers have been referred to be “the best since Larsson” since he left for Barcelona in 2004, but does a current team member now have this distinction.
With Odsonne Édouard wearing green and white, the player in question may be at the top of their game.
How good was Odsonne Édouard at Celtic
Édouard, who was awarded the title of “best since Larsson” by previous manager Martin O’Neill, undoubtedly had a significant influence at Parkhead.
After initially joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the Frenchman’s on-field exploits persuaded the club to make the deal permanent in 2017 for a then-club-record £9 million.
Before he was eventually sold to Crystal Palace at a profit, namely for £14 million in August 2021, Édouard scored 87 goals in 179 games with the Hoops, or on goal per 140 minutes on average.
With three trebles and the club’s Player of the Season award in 2019–20, it’s reasonable to say he was an incredible acquisition.
However, Celtic’s current top scorer has undoubtedly surpassed Édouard in terms of value for money.
(The greatest addition to Celtic since Odsonne Edouard)
In January 2022,Maeda Daizen joined Celtic from Yokohama F. Marinos for an estimated £1.4 million. He made an immediate impression, scoring against Hibs less than four minutes into his debut.
Michael Stewart, a former midfielder for Hibs and Hearts, feels that the Japanese attacker has “stepped up a level” in recent months as he has since increased his goal total to 57 for the Hoops, with an incredible 28 of those goals coming this season.
In the meantime, right-back Alistair Johnston called him “one of the most in-form players in Europe,” while Celtic Way’s John McGinley calls him a “superstar.”
Given Maeda’s recent scoring run, we’re curious to see how many goals a Celtic player has scored in a single season since Larsson. Let’s investigate.
Players with more than 25 goals in a season in all competitions (starting in 2004)
PlayersTime of year
Objectives
Maeda Daizen
2024–2025
28*
Furuhashi Kyōgo
2022–2023
34
Édouard Odsonne
2019–20
29**
Sinclair, Scott
2016–17
25
Dembélé Moussa
2016–17
32
Griffiths, Leigh
2015–16
40
Commons, Kris
2013–14
32
Hooper, Gary
2012–2013
31
Hooper, Gary
2011–12
29
Scott McDonald
2007–2008
31
*The season is still going on. *season was shortened due to COVID-19.
According to the table, only Leigh Griffiths has scored 40 goals in a single season for Celtic since Henrik Larsson’s 41-goal haul in 2003–04; Maeda has just ten more games to break this record, which calls for 12 goals, which is definitely not impossible, is it?
As the first Celtic player to score four goals in a single European Cup or Champions League season since Joe Craig in 1977–78, the Japanese attacker has already set one milestone.
Transfermarkt claims that Maeda is valued at approximately £9.2 million, which is at its highest point.
As rumours over his future rage, TEAMtalk thinks Celtic will only sell for a “sizable fee,” while Michael Gannon of the Daily Record calls the striker “priceless.”
As previously mentioned, Maeda must rank among Celtic’s best value acquisitions because he only cost £1.6 million and is currently without a doubt the team’s “best player.”
